Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor East (Councillor Lakhmana was present as her substitute) and Councillor Davis (Councillor Chapman was present as his substitute).

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meetings held on 20 April 2016 and 12 May 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

It was noted that all items of business would be considered in public.

Officers introduced the three possible review topics highlighting the key points.

The topics discussed were:

1.    Employment of People with Disabilities

2.    Hospital Discharges 

3.    Extra Care Housing

After all the three topics were introduced, Councillors asked questions.  They questioned the employment opportunities available for people with disabilities in the London Borough of Hillingdon and whether there was a duty to ensure a certain amount of disabled people were employed.  Officers responded that employers, including the Council, had to comply with the Equality Act and make reasonable adjustments in the workplace.  However, this topic related specifically to people with learning disabilities who were also adult social care service users.  The point was made that lessons could be learnt from more successful councils in the employment of people with disabilities.

On the topic of 'Hospital Discharges' it was noted that it could be difficult to discharge a patient out of hospital if the family were not willing to care for them at home or pay for nursing staff. Hospitals had on occasion had to use an eviction policy. 

A Councillor reviewed the list of responsibilities for the Social Services, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee (POC) and noted that two issues, as far as he was aware, had not yet been looked at:

·         Asylum Seekers

·         Encouraging Home Ownership

The Chairman thanked the Officers for their presentations and suggested that the topic of 'Hospital Discharges' was investigated as a major report; this was agreed unanimously by the Committee.

There was discussion on an additional minor report and a vote was taken with 7 Members voting to look at 'Employment of People with Disabilities' and 1 Member voting to look at 'Extra Care Housing'.

RESOLVED: That:

1.    the major POC report was agreed to be 'Hospital Discharges'; and

2.    the minor POC report was agreed to be 'Employment of People with Disabilities'.

RESOLVED:  That the Forward Plan be noted.

RESOLVED: That the Work Programme be noted.